Yesterday, the EU Environment Commissioner-designate, Jessika Roswall, was questioned by the Environment Committee in the European Parliament. This gives Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) the chance to scrutinise the potential future Commissioners on their file and to assess if they are suitable for the roles they have been given,
When questioned about the REACH revision, she confirmed that a modernisation of REACH will come in 2025, based on the impact assessment and work already done, albeit with some adjustments.
“I have no intention to delay this process,” she added.
Ms Roswall pointed to the overall direction of the revision: “The objective of REACH to protect human health and the environment (…) have to be in the front of course, and it will be, but also we need to have this legal certainty for the chemical industry“.
She explained that modernising REACH is important to gather more information on endocrine disruptors, ensuring that citizens know which substances are used in products.
She also highlighted that faster decisions and quicker substitution of hazardous substances mean greater predictability and better protection of people’s health.
Regarding PFAS, the forever chemicals, she said they would be phased out from consumer products. Additional guidance would be provided to companies, which should support them in planning and deciding on investments. She said there is no precise date for this process at the moment but assured that it will be done as soon as possible.
Ms Roswall also emphasised that her understanding is that simplification does not mean deregulation but is instead about making implementation easier and, therefore, more effective.
Stefan Scheuer from CHEM Trust said:
“It is essential that the Commission stays on course to respond to growing chemical pollution, restricts PFAS and wastes no time to make its long-awaited proposals for a REACH revision.
We welcome Roswall’s commitments to prioritise the protection of health and the environment in the chemicals industry package.”
Update: Roswall received the green light from the Environment Committee, albeit with a one-day delay. Her formal approval from the Parliament will follow later, once MEPs have formed their view on all the Commissioners-designates.
Resources
European Parliament, Confirmation hearing of Jessika Roswall, Commissioner-designate, Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy (5 November 2024)
